Solon questions power rate hike

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares (Facebook photo)

MANILA — Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares on Thursday questioned the 27 centavo per kilowatt hour increase in electricity rates in the franchise are of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) for April.

“The ERC it appears will just take this sitting down, as it did in the past, since up till now it has yet to release the long awaited collusion report on the 2013 Malampaya turnaround,” Colmenares said in a statement.

He added that this party will question the basis of the recent power rate hike.

Meanwhile, the increase in power rate hikes had been expected following 30-day maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya gas platform off Palawan.

The shutdown, which will last until April 14, force gas-fired powered plants to turn to alternative fuels.

Gas-fired power plants were also forced to resort to expensive liquid fuel, which caused higher rates being charged by the Meralco suppliers.